Sewing-machine attachment



F. w. LEB'E'RECHT" SEWING MACHINE ATHCHME-Nf:

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1920.

1 Fatenfad June 21, 11921.

3 snzer-flsi 1 F. W. LEBERECHT. SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT. 'APPLFQATIDN mm mm 11. 1920.

Patented Jmi 21,1921.

F. W; LEBERECHT.

SEWING MACHlNE ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. T7, I920.

Patented um 21, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

(gm mew fez a muwwdlhw (95% tl t tozmeag JIM 9990M A ii i i SEWING-MACHINE ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pfmtguigd J 21 1192 Application filed March 17, 1920. Serial No. EGG/l6? To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnnnnron /ViLLIAM Lnnnnnoirr, a citizen of Germany, residing at New York, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing- Machine r'ittachments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sewing machines and has for its principal object to provide an attachment for stitching button holes which can easily and conveniently be applied to any form of existing sewing machines without requiring material changes of the latter.

Another object is to produce an attachment which will be operated automatically from a reciprocating part of the sewing machine.

A still further object is to so construct the attachment that the same may be used either for stitching but-ton holes or producing continuous zig-zag stitches.

And another object is to construct the at tachment, so that the same may be utilized for sewing on buttons or the like.

With these and other objects in View, my invention consists in the novel construction,

combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters denote corresponding parts, Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation of a part of a sewing machine .7 shows the plain form of button hole stitching to be produced; Fig. 8 is a similar ."lG'W as Fi n 3 of a somewhat modified construction; l ig. 9 is a top plan view of the swinging member as seen in direction of the an rows 9-9 in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a vertical section on line 1010 of Fig 8; Fig. 11 is a perspectwe v1ew of thc'rnodified cam; Fig...

12 shows the second form' of button hole to be produced by the modified eonstructiong' 7 new attachment is so constructed that it can be easily and conveniently secured to any type of sewing machine,so as to be operated automatically from the vertically reciproeating needle bar in the manner hereinafter fully explained.

The attachment comprises a frame 1 formed at one side witha projection 2 in form of a plate whereby it can be attached to a bracket 3 fixed to the table 'l or the frame F of the machine. 7

The frame 1 at one end as at 2' has pivljatally secured to it a bell crank lever l of which one arm 4 is adapted to be connected to the vertically reciprocating needle bar B. This connection is effected by providmg the arm 4: with an angular end portion l having a longitudinal angular slot l which engages a lateral projection or the screw bolt S serving for fastening the needle N in the needle bar B. r

The other armd of the bell crank has pivoted to it two levers 6 and 7 one above the other, the object and function of which will he hereinafterfully described. (in a vertical spindle or pin 8 rotatively borne in the frame 1 at the end opposite to that carrying the bell crank 41- is rotatively mounted a member 9 in lateral extension 9 on which is provided a slot 9 in which pivotally engages the lever 6 and whereby reciprocating movement of the needle bar B and of the bell crank i will be transmitted to the member 9 causing the latter to reciprocate horizontally on the spindle or pin 8. This member 9 has fulcrumed thereon at 10 a pawl 10 which is adapted to engage a horizontally disposed ratchet wheel 11, fixed on the upper end of the spindle or pin 8 above the horizontally reciprocatory memher 9 and to impart to said wheel 11 a step by step motion. Secured to or formed integrally with the frame 1 is a segmental prothe l jection 12 to which is fixeda curved cam arm 13 adapted toactuate the pawl during the upward movement ofv the needle bar so as to release said pawl from engagement with the ratchet wheel 11. Carried by the segmental member 12 is an auxiliary pawl 14 serving to prevent retrograde movement of the ratchet wheel 10. V

The pawl 10 is under the action "of a spring 15 which tends to hold it in engagement with the ra'chet wheel 11 but which during the upwardmovement of the needle bar B is overcome by the action of the cam arm 13.

Mounted below the frame 1 and extending longitudinally thereof is the mechanism for feeding the goods on the table T in such relation to the vertically reciprocating nee- .I shall therefore describe the two 7 dle'N, as to produce a button hole stitch of the form shown in Fig. 7 or of thatshown in Fig. 12. v r

The mechanism for, the two different forms of button holes somewhat varies, and

mechanisms separately.

Referring first to the mechanism for the button hole form of Fig. 7, the same comprises a bar shaped member 16 which or:- tends below the frame 1 and is capable of executing short horizontal swingingmovements. To this end, said bar is loosely mounted on a vertical spindle 17 rotatively.

borne in the frame 1. Thisspindle at its lower end carries a gear '18 aoapted to be constantly in meshing connection with much smaller gear 19 fixed to the lower end.

r of the spindle 8 which freely passes through member Qt-adapted to extend below the arm 21 longitudinally of thebar 16; This mem-' her which is adapted totalre the place of the a bore 16' made in the bar 16 soas not to interfere with the lateral swinging move-f mentof the latter. Above the wheel 18, the spindle 17 carries a cam 20. The bar 16 is grooved at 16 around the cam 20 so that when the spindle ordinary presser foot of asewing machine carries a vertical pin 25 projecting through a slot in thearm 21. The upper end of said pin has clamped or otherwisefixed to it a member 26 in whichis tiltably borne cam finger .27 serving for the manipulation of the presser plate. or member 21 to bring the latter into contact with the fabric located on, the table. T, and in which button hole will'belongitudiually mov responding to the length of thebutton hole.

stitches are to be produced. Between the arm 21 and the tiltalole presser plate 2 1, I provide a spring 27 wound around the pin 25 and which has the tendency to normally press the plate 24into contact withthe fabric. .On tilting the cam finger the pin 25 will be moved upwardly lifting the plate 24f from thegoods against the pressure of the spring. In the plate 24, I provide a longi tudinal recess 2 through which the needle N is allowed to pass in and out of the fabric during its vertical reciprocating movement. Slidably engaging the longitudinal edges of the plate 241 is a member 28. This member carries a gripping .member 29 the bottom 0 edges 29 of-which are toothed or roughene and winch serves to grlp the fabric whenthe member 24% is in its depressed position; This member 29 is preferably made in theform of a rectangular frame extending longitudinally of the member 2 1 and is centrally piv oted as at 29 to the slide 28 so as to tilt horizontally in order that it may adjust it self according to the thickness of thefabric to be treated. v

Theslide 28 carrying the grippingmem-' her 29 is adaptedto be operated automatically bythe reciprocating needle car through the medium of an arm 30 one end of which is pivotally. connected to t e slide at 30 and the other, to crank pin 31 fixed to and projecting from the lower face of the large gear 18. adapted to conform with the length of the button holecan be adjusted. To this-owl T fprovide a slot 18 in the bottom'of the gear -18 along which the crank pin 31 can be dis. placed according to the adjustment required.

' During the operation of the needle bar 1% the bell (-ranlr 1--will swing vertifally and through the medium of the lever arm 6 swingtl'i'e pawl 10' around the axis of the spindle P. u consequence thereofthe ratchet 11. will be fed step by step imgartin rotary motion to the pin 8 and consequen h to the small gear 19 which in turn wil revolve the large 5 spindle17 to revolve; which by its cam 20' will operate the bar 16 to swingit laterally from the central or normal posi'ti n; In.

' theroof,- the gripping member I the fabricwill first shift the latter to; one, side relative to the needle' Thereupon through themedium of the crank pin 31 and arm 30 the gfippinghmmber 29 ed a distan e Then the cam 20 again will operate the bar 16 to cause the gripping member in a similar manner as before to shift the fabric laterally relative to the needle N in the direction opposite to that of the first lateral movement. Then again, throughthe medium of the'crank pin 31 and arm 30 the gripping member 29 will shift the fabric The stroke of the slide 28 Y Thelatter-will cause the longitudinally in a direction opposite to the first longitudinal movement completing the button hole stitching operation around the edges of the button hole which may have been previously cut in the fabric.

The stitches made around the edges of the button hole are as usually zig-zag stitches. The latter are effected by the tollowing mechanism:

The free end of the bar 16 is provided with a longitudinal slot 16 Adjustably borne in said slot is a. pin 32 which projects vertically upward. lliotatively mounted in the frame 1 above said pin is a horizontally disposed spindle 33 on which is mountet a wheel B l provided in its circumference with an annular cam groove 84; in which engages the free end of the pin 32. The cam groove'as will be clearly seen from Fig. i is of zig-Za-g shape so that as the cam revolves the pin S2 will be moved alternately to one side of its normal central position to the opposite side thereof, and transmit this zig-Zag motion to the bar 16, and conse quently to the prcsser plate 2& and gripping member 29, whereby the fabric apart from and simultaneously with the movement parted to it through the medium of the cam 29 and crank pin 31 will be given a lateral oscillatory motion. The plate 2% will therefore receive a composite movement, to wit,

swinging around the pin 32 to more the,

fabric according to the width of the button hole and simultaneously swinging in zig-zag fashion around the spindle 17 to produce a zig-Zag stitch.

The zi -za uroove 84 has flattened )or-' b b c:

tions (Fig. 4,) which are adapted to hold the pin 82 stationary for the short periods of time during which the needle is carrying out its upward strokes.

The cam 34L receives its rotary motion through the medium of a ratchet 353 made integral therewith or fixed thereto, and a spring actuated pawl 36 tulcrumed to an arm 37, the'liree end of which is slotted as at 37 to be slidably guided on the spindle 33. The other end of said arm 37 is connected by a pin 38 to the atorenamed arm 'Zk-onnected to the bell crank lever arm 4 Thus the vertical swinging movement of the bell cranks while causing the movement of the bar 16 and otthegripping member 29 in the aforedescribed manner will simultaneously impart a rotary step by step movement to the earn 3% as a result of which the pin 32 will impart the zig-zag motion to the bar 16.

To produce button hole stitches for button holes of the shape shown in Fig. 12, the bar 16 and cam 20 must be somewhat modified. This modification is shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11.

The cam 39 is substantially of the construction shown in Fig. 11 i. e. composed of a plurality of cam surfaces such as 39, 39 and 39 and is mounted in a correspondingly shaped groove ll) of the modified bar ll).

The groove all) the composite cam 39 are so shaped that the presser plate 2% carried by the member do will first be swung by one of the cam surfaces as '39 to one .in con'unction with the lateral disilacement of the gripping member will cause the member l-O to describe the semi-circular edge. 0

of the eye portion of the button hole, The gripping member 29 will then move longitudinally in opposite direction to-the first longitudinal motion and cam 39' will cause the member 40 to move so as to prodiue the edge e ofthe button hole.

l Vhen applying the button hole stitching attachment to a sewing machine the ordinary ft'abrie feeder and presser foot are removed.

My attachment may be utilized. also for other purposes than producing button hole stitches. Thus it may be used for producing continuous rig-zap: stitches, or for sewing on buttons having eyes. q i

The mechanism for cutting or punching out the button hole is shown in Fi 13 and 14:. Algnife 55 may be suspended from the arm 21 to be automatically operated by the bell crank arm 4:. To this end an arm 56 may be fulcrumed-to the free end of the arm 21 to swing horizontally and hinged or otherwise pivotally attached to said arm may be a second arm 57 capable'o'f swinging vertically. This arm 57 is normally held in raised position by a spring 58 attached to the arm 56. Projecting laterally from said arm 57 is a pin 59 adapted to ere tend into the path of the lever 4 when it is desired to operate the knife 55. The latter which may be in form of a blade or punch is fixed to the arm 57 and adapted to project downwardly therefrom toward the slot 24: in the presser plate 24%. Vllhen it is desired to punch out or cut the button hole the arm 56 is turned on its fulcrum until the pin 59 projects below the arm 4, so that when the needle bar B descends the arm 4 will strike said pin and depress the leverh57 carrying the blade 55.

When not in use the knife is turned sidewise so that the pin 59 will be out of the way of the reciprocating lever arm 4'.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a sewing machine,

an attachment for stitching button holes, comprising a cam controlled horizontally swinging presser plate a longitudinally slidable gripping member on said presser plate, and'a common means for transmitting motion to said cam and gripping member from a reciprocating part of said machine.

2. In combination with a sewing machine, I an attachment; for stitching button holes,

comprising a cam controlled horizontally swinglng member, vertically tiltablepresser plate carried by said member, a 1011-.

gitudinally slidable gripping member on said presser'plate and acommon means to transmit motion tosaid cam and slidable grip.- ping member." V V 3. In combinationwith a sewing machine, an attachment for stitching button holes, comprising a horizontally swinging presser plate a longitudinally slidable gripping member on said plate',a cam for swinging said presser plate laterally according to the configuration of the button hole, a cam for simultaneously imparting a lateral os Vcillatory movement to said presser plate and common means for transmltting movei ment of a reciprocating part of the sewing machine to said sliding member and to both said cams.

4'. In combination with asewing machine, an attachment for stitching button holes,

comprising a 'frame,aho-rizontally swing;

ing grooved. member mounted therein, a vertically tiltable presser plate ca'rried by said 1 member, a' cam mounted in the groove of said member to move the latter laterally according to the configuration of the button hole, a second rotary cam carried by sald frame and serving to reciprocate the sald member horizontally, a gripping-memher slidably supported on said presser plate and means operated from the needle bar and including a bell crank to impart move-.

ments to said cams and gripping member.

5. In combination with a sewing machine, a button hole cutting and stitching attachment, comprising a frame, a horizontally swinging slotted presser plate, carriedby said frame, a. vertically movable arm oper ated from the needle bar and transmitting motion to said presser plate and a vertically movable cutting member carried by said frame soas to swing horizontally'with said presser plate and operated from said arm.

6. In combination" with a sewing machine,

a button hole cut-ting and stitching attach ment, comprising a frame fixed to said ma chine, a horizontally swinging presser plate carried by said frame, a movable arm oper atively connected to areciprocatin'g part of said machine, and adaptedito transmit mo-- 

